3.4.1 Strategic outcomes

1. New housing is located with ready access to employment and services, providing affordable living options in the region.
2. The region's urban footprint as expressed in its new neighbourhoods, urban revitalisation neighbourhoods, mixed use centres and the Gladstone CBD will accommodate the region's population and housing growth over the next 20 years.
3. Most new housing occurs in well planned greenfield urban extensions within identified new neighbourhoods in the Emerging community zone.  These are accompanied by a Plan of development.
4. Residential development within the region occurs where it can be demonstrated that there is both overwhelming community and economic need.
5. Redevelopment and infill development will provide an increasing proportion of the region's housing stock through attached housing types. This will occur in identified urban revitalisation areas, larger mixed use centres and the Gladstone CBD.
6. Low density dwelling houses occur in existing suburban neighbourhoods and to a lesser extent rural and coastal places and rural residential areas.
7. A diverse range of housing types in new neighbourhoods, urban revitalisation neighbourhoods, mixed use centres and the Gladstone CBD is provided to meet the needs of people who live in, work in and visit the Gladstone region.
8. Ageing in place is facilitated through wider housing and accommodation choices, including those that meet the needs of older people.
9. Major short term accommodation is concentrated in the Gladstone CBD, urban revitalisation areas and mixed use centres. Smaller scale short term accommodation within rural and coastal townships supports tourism associated with rural and coastal attractions.
10. Non–resident worker accommodation generally occurs in locations where they are part of the urban fabric. They are designed to create a sense of place and identity, be adaptable to other housing needs and leave a legacy of infrastructure for communities. Non–resident worker accommodation outside urban areas must be self–sufficient in all forms of servicing and infrastructure needs.

3.4.2 Elements

Housing growth

The Gladstone region's population growth is characterised by periods of rapid growth (as new major developments occur), followed by more stable phases – placing fluctuating demands on regional housing supply. Past periods of rapid growth have impacted on housing availability and affordability and the provision of services.  The timely supply of land ensures that new housing can be provided to meet these periods of growth without significant adverse impact on affordability and access to the necessary physical and social infrastructure.

In instances of new house supplies, this timely delivery is to be demonstrated through specific needs analyses which illustrate both overwhelming community and economic need. 

Population in the Gladstone region is expected to increase between 30,000 and 60,000 people from 2014 to 2031 according to State Government forecasts. The majority of this growth will occur in Gladstone's urban area and the surrounding urban communities of Boyne Island, Tannum Sands and Calliope.

Traditional 'greenfield' housing growth in new neighbourhoods accommodates the bulk of population and housing growth. These are only located in the Emerging community zone where accompanied by a Plan of development. Housing growth will be balanced by approximately 20% infill development, predominantly in the form of attached housing at varying densities, in well located urban revitalisation neighbourhoods, mixed use centres and the Gladstone CBD. Low density housing occurs in existing suburban areas in the Low density residential zone, rural residential areas and in rural and coastal places which reflect the existing situations of these well–established areas. Infill development is not supported here.

This balance between greenfield and infill development ensures the Gladstone region has sufficient housing land supply to last for at least 20 years.

Residential development in new neighbourhoods must achieve an average density of 15 dwellings per hectare net (or 12.5 dwellings per hectare net in Calliope). This is to enable a range of housing forms (not just one housing type) and densities. It also contributes towards establishing well balanced and functional urban communities that support a range of household compositions and people from different backgrounds.

The region's urban areas also include State Government facilitated developments at Clinton and Toolooa in Gladstone and 'Tannum Blue' in Tannum Sands, which contribute to housing for the region.

Housing mix and affordability

Residential development provides for a mix of housing types that support a wide range of housing needs throughout the region. These are expressed in detached and attached residential building typologies in relevant zones in urban revitalisation areas, mixed uses centres and the Gladstone CBD. Dwelling houses and dual occupancy also contribute to the housing mix in existing suburban neighbourhoods and in rural and coastal townships and rural residential areas.

New Neighbourhoods (where most new housing will occur) must deliver a range of detached and attached housing types of different sizes and configurations.

The ability to 'age in place' helps achieve well balanced and functional communities and forms part of the broader housing objective of providing greater housing choice to meet needs throughout different phases of life. Retirement villages, aged care accommodation and other forms of accommodation for older people occurs in locations with convenient access to health and community services, public transport and centres.

The diverse range of housing options also caters for award workers and low income households. This is partly achieved through the retention of existing affordable housing, including relocatable home parks and permanently occupied caravan parks.

Short term and non–resident workforce accommodation

Other forms of accommodation perform important roles in temporarily housing tourists, visitors and some workers (at peak times) throughout the region. This supports the regional economy particularly in the tourism, business and major industry sectors.

Short term accommodation for business and tourist visitors such as hotels and serviced apartments are encouraged in the Gladstone CBD and in mixed use centres. Other short term accommodation options support tourism activities where they are servicing rural and coastal townships.

Non–resident workforce accommodation represents another form of temporary housing that largely responds to peak demands in major resource related projects, particularly during their construction phases. To prevent impacts on the region's rental and market housing supply, the preferred accommodation for large scale non–resident workforce accommodation is in dedicated workers accommodation facilities. This accommodation occurs where it is integrated into the urban fabric of urban areas, designed to look and feel like part of the urban area and is not a camp or compound.

In the event this type of temporary housing cannot be located as part of an existing town or urban area, non–resident workforce accommodation must be self–sufficient in all forms of servicing and infrastructure and not adversely impact on the existing services and infrastructure of the nearest town or urban area.

Non–resident workforce accommodation facilities financially contribute to the services they use. They also leave a positive legacy which can include being able to adapt to other accommodation and community needs once the construction phases of major industries are completed. Where adaptation to other accommodation uses cannot be achieved, these facilities are discontinued for alternative land use potentials.

Mapping

Schedule 2 Mapping

• Strategic framework maps - Strategic Framework Theme: Community living and building it better – our urban places